Devoted to the daily goings on with Rutgers football, both at High Point Solutions Stadium and behind the scenes.

Friday, August 16, 2013

Brandon Coleman in on 7-on-7s as Fresno State looms, needs to find "next gear"

By Tyler Barto

Twitter: Tyler_Barto

tbarto@trentonian.com

Brandon Coleman participated in 7-on-7s on Thursday for the first time in training camp, another sign Rutgers' top receiver is making progress for a season opener less than two weeks away.The junior, rehabbing from offseason knee surgery, said he likely would not be able to play a full game if the opener were Friday. Coleman says he plans to see the field for 7-on-7s again during Friday's practice."I'm comfortable physically, moving in the right direction," Coleman said Thursday after a half-hour tub treatment at the Hale Center, the team's indoor facility. "I don't have any doubts."Coleman again wore a red non-contact jersey and black spandex leggings Thursday, spending most of practice watching with the team's backup quarterbacks. He stood farthest away on Rutgers' F2 field during 11-on-11 drills.

Brandon Coleman participated in 7-on-7 drills for the first time Thursday, his longest appearance since undergoing knee surgery in the offseason. (AP Photo)

His 7-on-7s appearance was the most field work he's done since the end of the 2012 season."I just have to get back to the point where I can just get that next gear," Coleman said. "I haven't opened up that next gear yet. That's probably the last thing: that full stride after I make the catch, being able to separate from the defense and take it the distance."RELATED: Ruhann Peele's difficult journey to first-team repsHe insists that point will come.For now, Coleman will stick to a pre-planned practice regimen: pre-practice routes, positional warm-ups, a few individual periods with quarterbacks and one-on-one reps before moving to a conditioning bicycle.RELATED: Breaking down Brandon Coleman's most productive routeColeman seldom has to stretch his knee out because of tightness, he said.He says he's gotten enough communication with Rutgers' offense despite his on-field absence.On days with one practice, the offense meets in the morning with coordinator Ron Prince before night meetings with position groups. Sometimes they fit in a mid-day receivers meeting."I'm spending all day with them," Coleman said. "It doesn't have to just be meetings. We can be in lunch talking about it on our own free time."